What Will You Carry in Your Holiday Travel Gear Bag?

This morning it sure felt like the holidays took a giant step closer to being here after a weather system moved through and left us with chillier, December-like temperatures. So, there’s no question that the holidays are coming up as fast as the sweater box got taken out from under the bed. For some folks the holidays mean travel. For some folks that’s a day or so trek. For some folks like me that means a long trip back. Each year we journey back to the Windy City to spend time with my wife’s family and some old Chi-town friends. That trip is one for both work and pleasure. I don’t get much of a real vacation although we do save a couple of days just for ourselves during the family and friend madness.

But this trip begins the portion of the year when I’m traveling quite a bit. I’ve said this before, but in many ways I spend most of the year gearing up for the traveling portion of my life. I add and subtract gear that’s going to keep me both productive and entertained along the way. Each year the gear bag contains something new for me to try and fit into my mobile life. Each year there are successes and failures with what I try out as well.

But what about you? I’ll be posting what I’m carrying this year in a week or so as we get closer to travel time. And I’m sure the GBM gang that is heading to CES will be doing the same. But whether you’re traveling for a short trip that takes you over the river and through the woods, or a longer one, what do you carry in your gear bag on these kind of trips? Do you chuck it all and go offline? (Boy, I wish I could do that.) Or do you gear up in case anything comes your way that you need to deal with? Have recent device releases lightened your load? Does your family (like mine) depend on you to show them what’s new and exciting? What affects your thinking about what you carry on these trips?

We’d love to know what your holiday gear bag contains, so let us know in comments. And while services don’t really fall into the category of “gear” let us know which ones you’ll be using to record or keep up with your travels as well.